Comm 171: Argumentation and Debate, Section 001, Spring 2009

Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30-10:45, GC 3024 Instructor: Emily Ravenscroft

Office: 303 Bingham Hall Email: ravens@email.unc.edu
Office Hours: Tues 11-3 and by appointment Final Exam Time: Tues April 29th 12pm
Briefs email address: debatebriefs@yahoo.com Judges: Kelli Cheatham, Sophie Grabinski, Tyler
Singleton, Taylor Fogleman

Course Description and Philosophy

This course will give you a basic working knowledge of critical thinking and listening skills, teach you
how to build and critique arguments, and enhance your understanding of current world affairs. Your
participation is central to your success in this class; therefore, you are urged to risk opinions, to volunteer
constructive feedback and suggestions, and to actively work with other students as you learn the course
material. I insist upon a respectful environment at all times.

Course Objectives
Students enrolled in this class should learn to:

- Construct ethical, reasoned arguments for different audiences

- Critically evaluate the arguments and appeals made by other speakers
- Provide and receive constructive feedback
- Speak competently and confidently
- Research and support both sides of important contemporary issues

Course Requirements
I will use BlackBoard, so you are required to check the email account that is linked with this site. You
should check your email at least every three or four days to look for class postings. All assignments will
be posted to our BlackBoard Website, and you can obtain additional downloads on BlackBoard as the
semester progresses.

Graded Assignments: Your course grade will be based on your performance on the following:

Matter Building Presentation and Handout: 10% 100 points

8 Briefs 40% 400 points total; 50 points each
2 partner debates 5% 50 points total; 25 points each
Debate #1 5% 50 points
Debate #2 5% 50 points
Debate #3 10% 100 points
Debate #4 15% 150 points
Final Thoughts Paper 5% 50 points
Final Debate 5% 50 points

Final debate:
The final debate tournament is semi-formal. Though you will not be graded based on appearance I
encourage you to dress up for the occasion as is typical to British parliamentary style tournaments.

Late work - missed debates

You will not be permitted to make up missed debates. Your partner is relying on you to be present on the
day that you are assigned to speak. Only under extraordinary circumstances (that are well documented)
will you be permitted to make up the missed debate.
Late papers/briefs
No late papers or briefs will be accepted.
Exceptions: In serious cases, such as a family emergency, you may petition for relief from this
stipulation. Your petition should be a memorandum documenting your reason for not handing in your
written work on time. Attach any dated documentation verifying the date and reason you were absent. I
must receive this petition in a timely fashion; don’t wait to get this to me.

Grading: Any questions about an assigned grade must be raised no sooner that 24 hours and no later than
72 hours after the date the graded assignment was returned. You can challenge a grade by emailing me a
written argument that attempts to persuade me that you deserve a higher grade. If you are challenging a
debate grade we will watch your debate together after I have reviewed your written argument and review
my grading rationale. Be aware that a grade that has been challenged can go down. The points/letter
grade scale is below:

94 = A 87-89 = B+ 77-79 = C+ 67-69 = D+ Below 60 = F

90 -93 = A- 84-86 = B 74-76 = C 64-66 = D
80-83 = B- 70-73 = C- 60-63 = D-

- A level work far exceeds basic assignment requirements. The work is of excellent, outstanding
quality.
- B level work exceeds the basic requirements for an assignment; the work is good to very good.
- C category work meets the basic requirements of an assignment. The work is satisfactory.
- D work does not meet most of the basic requirements of the assignment; the work is poor.
- An F is usually given for work that is of extremely poor quality. The work typically fails to meet most
of the requirements of an assignment, or of the course.

Attendance: You get two “free” absences (only redeemable on days you are NOT assigned to debate).
Additional missed classes, apart from documented illness or emergencies will lower your final course
grade by 3 points per missed class. Arriving to class later than 10 minutes will count as an absence. I do
take roll.

Excessive absences are grounds for a final course grade of ‘F’.

Honor Code
As part of our commitment to each other and the standards of the university, all work submitted in this
class is to be the culmination of your own efforts. While you are encouraged to discuss ideas and
possibilities with other students and myself, no one is authorized to complete the work for you, and you
should never claim the work of another person, organization or institution as your own. Any external
sources and materials must be acknowledged with appropriate citations. Furthermore, “disruptive
behavior” constitutes an honor code violation. If you have any questions about the honor code, please
ask.

Course Schedule
Modifications to the schedule may be needed as the course progresses; these will be announced. It is your
responsibility to keep up with schedule changes.

Tues Jan 13: Introduction; Syllabus; Example Debate

Thurs Jan 15: Basics of British Parliamentary Debate: Role fulfillment and speech writing
Please print the handout from Blackboard: BP Rules
Tues Jan 20: Basics of argumentation
Thurs Jan 22: Writing briefs/research day; meet in the library
Tues Jan 27: The Great Debaters
Thurs Jan 29: The Great Debaters
Tues Feb 3: Debate #1 A and B
Brief #1 due: US domestic policy
Thurs Feb 5: Debate #1 C and D
Tues Feb 10: Matter Building Day 1: 7 students
Brief #2 due: US foreign policy
Thurs Feb 12: Matter Building Day 2: 7 students
Tues Feb 17: Debate #2 Group A and B
Thurs Feb 19: Debate #2 Group C and D
Brief #3: Europe
Tues Feb 24: Matter Building Day 3: 7 students
Thurs Feb 26: Balloon debate 1: 10 students
Brief #4 due: South America
Tues March 3: Balloon debate 2: 10 students
Thurs March 5: Balloon debate 3: 12 students
Brief #5 due: Africa
Tues March 10 and Thurs March12: NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK
Tues March 17: Matter Building Day 4: 7 student
Thurs March 19: Debate #3 Group A
Brief #6 due: Asia
Tues March 24: Debate #3 Group B
Thurs March 26: Debate #3 Group C
Brief #7 due: South America
Tues March 31: Debate #3 Group D
Thurs April 2: Matter Building Day 5: 4 students; Argumentation fallacies
Brief #8 due: Australia
Tues April 7: Advanced argumentation; debate maneuvers (squirrels, stabs, blocking out)
Thurs April 9: Debate #4 Group A
Partner Flow #1 due
Tues April 14: Debate #4 Group B
Thurs April 16: Debate #4 Group C
Partner debate flow #2 due
Tues April 21: Debate #4 Group D
Thurs April 23: Legal Communication, concluding remarks, course evaluations
Final Thoughts paper due; Announcement of championship teams.

Sat May 2 8AM: Final debate: top 4 teams from the class will compete. Top teams are
determined by results of debate #4. ALL students are expected to attend. Please bring a
food or beverage to share with your classmates. Dress for the final is semi-formal.